Mrs. Kelly Morrissey is a kindergarten teacher, she loves her job nevertheless, she admits that sometimes it can get rather stressful. “For example, In January we have to administer the DIBELS assessment on a deadline, the ACCESS test on a deadline and also do individual report card tests, also on a deadline.” she states and adds that January is the most stressful time of her school year. However, Mrs. Morrissey also adds that she feels the constant pressure from the administration, especially with the weekly records and the fact that after a day of learning about them, she has to go back to school and put them in motion. “It is these kinds of things that create stress.” she claims, “I try not to let the stress translate to my students, though they can usually sense how the teacher is feeling.” “It would be helpful if the administration would not place so much pressure on teachers.” she admits adding that some kind of in class help in form of a helper or a parent volunteer would make the testing time less difficult. “... since we have to test each child individually.” Mrs. Morrissey agrees that assessments are needed because they can provide the teacher with specific information about the student. Thing such as: academic growth, progress, and needs of the student. Nevertheless, as she mentions many times it is very difficult to have a whole classroom of young learners and assessing them one at a time. Also, at her workplace the teachers and administration spends a lot of time on differentiation of the students. As she claims: “I may have students who enter kindergarten already reading and also students who enter not even recognizing their own names.” She admits that with such differences between the young learners it tends to get difficult and challenging to make sure that everyone is taken care of. The teacher does claim that sometimes group work or partners can help students acquiring and improving various skills. This not only benefits the students but also the teacher. According to Mrs. Morrissey, the high stakes tests can help the teacher in seeing progress of the students over the years. Nevertheless, she claims that to prepare for these tests takes a good amount of time and the preparation itself can be very stressful to the students, as well as teachers. Also, Mrs. Morrissey does not agree with the fact that one test determines the level of teachers, students, and the whole school. “One test does not give a complete picture.” she states. The teacher believes that the informal assessment which she is using in her classroom can help her understand what the student needs and what level he/she is. Mrs. Morrissey uses the assessment which is found in the school's curriculum such as: “...Saxon math and Houghton Mifflin Reading...” Nevertheless, she also uses some that are made by herself or other teachers. The teacher uses variety of assessment to check her students' knowledge. However, she claims that the games work the most with the groups she is teaching. “I can watch them play and see what skills they have mastered and what strategies they are using to solve the problem of the game.” Mrs. Morrissey also states, that even though she likes using portfolios to assess her students, this type of assessment does not always work. As she claims: “I tend to collect too much and then run out of time to sort through it.” The teacher also uses plenty of formal assessments. “ Some are mandated, such as the DIBELS, ACCESS, and running records...” She claims that those help her compare students to one another. But, Mrs. Morrissey does not rely on just those tests, it is important to her to also focus on the things she sees in the classroom. The teacher is familiar with the two standardized tests. As she explains, for the DIBELS she can find appropriate 2-3 weeks to have this test done with her class. She is given only the deadline when the test has to be turn in. The ACCESS is shorter because it usually takes 3-5 days to complete, yet the teacher informs me that school's bilingual coordinator sets up the date and time for the students to take this test. “...the children are dispersed into the other 3 rooms. All the teachers administer the test in the shutdown classroom, and may or may not be testing the students from their own class. There are substitutes hired to be in the 3 classrooms with the rest of the students.” According to the teacher this will go on until all the ELL students are done with their test. The teacher informed me that those tests later are send to the parents with the students' report cards. She explains the results to the parents (sometimes with a help of a translator) and schedules conferences if there is an issue that she wants to address. Finally, I discuss with Mrs. Morrissey the authentic assessments. “I think authentic assessments give much better picture of how students are doing.” she states. As the teacher mentioned many times, the games seem to work the best in her classroom. Students don't even know that they are being assessed and because they're having fun they learn. I learned a lot from this teacher and even though Mrs. Morrissey does claim that some assessments will not work the way we wanted them, it is always important to try. “It takes some time and getting used to as a teacher, but once you have found what works well for you it goes more smoothly.” I know that from this point on, this quote will always be in my heart and I'll try my best to be a successful teacher just like Mrs. Morrissey.
07/28/10
Teacher Interview
Mrs. Kelly Morrissey is a kindergarten teacher, she loves her job nevertheless, she admits that sometimes it can get rather stressful. “For example, In January we have to administer the DIBELS assessment on a deadline, the ACCESS test on a deadline and also do individual report card tests, also on a deadline.” she states and adds that January is the most stressful time of her school year. However, Mrs. Morrissey also adds that she feels the constant pressure from the administration, especially with the weekly records and the fact that after a day of learning about them, she has to go back to school and put them in motion. “It is these kinds of things that create stress.” she claims, “I try not to let the stress translate to my students, though they can usually sense how the teacher is feeling.”
“It would be helpful if the administration would not place so much pressure on teachers.” she admits adding that some kind of in class help in form of a helper or a parent volunteer would make the testing time less difficult. “... since we have to test each child individually.” Mrs. Morrissey agrees that assessments are needed because they can provide the teacher with specific information about the student. Thing such as: academic growth, progress, and needs of the student. Nevertheless, as she mentions many times it is very difficult to have a whole classroom of young learners and assessing them one at a time.
Also, at her workplace the teachers and administration spends a lot of time on differentiation of the students. As she claims: “I may have students who enter kindergarten already reading and also students who enter not even recognizing their own names.” She admits that with such differences between the young learners it tends to get difficult and challenging to make sure that everyone is taken care of. The teacher does claim that sometimes group work or partners can help students acquiring and improving various skills. This not only benefits the students but also the teacher.
According to Mrs. Morrissey, the high stakes tests can help the teacher in seeing progress of the students over the years. Nevertheless, she claims that to prepare for these tests takes a good amount of time and the preparation itself can be very stressful to the students, as well as teachers. Also, Mrs. Morrissey does not agree with the fact that one test determines the level of teachers, students, and the whole school. “One test does not give a complete picture.” she states.
The teacher believes that the informal assessment which she is using in her classroom can help her understand what the student needs and what level he/she is. Mrs. Morrissey uses the assessment which is found in the school's curriculum such as: “...Saxon math and Houghton Mifflin Reading...” Nevertheless, she also uses some that are made by herself or other teachers. The teacher uses variety of assessment to check her students' knowledge. However, she claims that the games work the most with the groups she is teaching. “I can watch them play and see what skills they have mastered and what strategies they are using to solve the problem of the game.” Mrs. Morrissey also states, that even though she likes using portfolios to assess her students, this type of assessment does not always work. As she claims: “I tend to collect too much and then run out of time to sort through it.” The teacher also uses plenty of formal assessments. “ Some are mandated, such as the DIBELS, ACCESS, and running records...” She claims that those help her compare students to one another. But, Mrs. Morrissey does not rely on just those tests, it is important to her to also focus on the things she sees in the classroom.
The teacher is familiar with the two standardized tests. As she explains, for the DIBELS she can find appropriate 2-3 weeks to have this test done with her class. She is given only the deadline when the test has to be turn in. The ACCESS is shorter because it usually takes 3-5 days to complete, yet the teacher informs me that school's bilingual coordinator sets up the date and time for the students to take this test. “...the children are dispersed into the other 3 rooms. All the teachers administer the test in the shutdown classroom, and may or may not be testing the students from their own class. There are substitutes hired to be in the 3 classrooms with the rest of the students.” According to the teacher this will go on until all the ELL students are done with their test. The teacher informed me that those tests later are send to the parents with the students' report cards. She explains the results to the parents (sometimes with a help of a translator) and schedules conferences if there is an issue that she wants to address.
Finally, I discuss with Mrs. Morrissey the authentic assessments. “I think authentic assessments give much better picture of how students are doing.” she states. As the teacher mentioned many times, the games seem to work the best in her classroom. Students don't even know that they are being assessed and because they're having fun they learn. I learned a lot from this teacher and even though Mrs. Morrissey does claim that some assessments will not work the way we wanted them, it is always important to try. “It takes some time and getting used to as a teacher, but once you have found what works well for you it goes more smoothly.” I know that from this point on, this quote will always be in my heart and I'll try my best to be a successful teacher just like Mrs. Morrissey.